Like it or not, the iPhone is a terrific addition to the tools we bring along when we travel for all of the stand reasons:

Photos

Maps

Audio Walking Tours

Looking up information

"Postcards" sent back home

and oh yes, making and receiving telephone calls

There are, however, several impediments to using your iPhone while travelling:

Connectivity: Both for data and voice.

Charging the battery for an entire day

Here are some solutions to problems you may encounter.

Connectivity

from HuffingtonpostAirplane Mode: Simplify your life and do it all for free!When you switch your phone into "airplane mode," you block its ability to make or receive telephone calls or transfer data through a data network. However, your phone may still connect to a Wi-Fi connection, and thus send emails, surf the web and use apps for as long as you'd like without incurring any charges from your carrier.When I'm working in Europe, I'll choose a cheap hotel with free Wi-Fi (which is usually pretty easy to find, as I mentioned in my last column), and then use my iPhone in airplane mode when I'm back in the hotel. Total charge: zip.I also take my phone with me throughout the day, and check in on emails by popping into a free Wi-Fi zone (for example, in most Starbucks and McDonald's).With your phone in airplane mode, you can't make a "normal" phone call. However, once you download the Skype app to your phone, you can call any telephone in the States for about a penny per minute -- or connect to another Skype user for free (ditto Facetime).

Battery Charge Life

I find that when I am traveling with my iPhone, I tend to be away from recharging opportunities for longer times than when I am home. There are several things you can do to avoid running out of power:

Bring a charger and cord with you and be attentive to plugging it in when you stop for lunch or a break. Most restaurants will understand if you ask them if you can recharge your phone while eating. Most important thing is to not forget your phone when you are finished your meal.

Buy an auxiliary battery for you phone. Some non-iPhones have replaceable batteries. For iPhones the only solution is external batteries that can even double as cases which can double the battery life of the one in your phone.

International Travel Rates

I have an AT&T iPhone 5. The rates imposed when calling or accessing data from somewhere else than the US are very expensive. I would really like to be able to replace the SIM card when traveling, but AT&T used locked phones. I am currently investigating what I have to do to get AT&T to provide reasonable international rates.

Communications

Money

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